HONOLULU - Michelle Wie accepted a sponsor exemption to play in the Sony Open in January, putting her in position to become the youngest woman to play in a PGA Tour event.
"It's a dream to play in the Sony Open," the 14-year-old said Thursday. "I just hope I can play good and show what I can do."
Gov. Linda Lingle said she requested that tournament officials allow Wie to play in her hometown event, the PGA Tour's first full-field tournament of the year.
Lingle said Wie's appearance will bring added exposure to the Sony Open and Hawaii.
"She has played this sport at the highest level under tremendous pressure and unbelievable media attention and scrutiny that anyone of any age would've had a difficult time dealing with it," Lingle said. "And she's done it with such grace."
Wie failed in two previous attempts to qualify for the tournament. She shot 73 last year in Monday qualifying, and had 84 in 2000.
Wie has played in nine professional tournaments this year. She competed against the men in the Nationwide Tour's Boise Open and the Canadian Tour's Bay Mills Open Players Championship, missing the cut in both events.
LPGA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: Lorie Kane shot 2-under 70 in windy conditions to take a one-stroke lead over Karrie Webb in Mobile, Ala.
"I'm not afraid of the wind," said Kane, winless since 2001. "I enjoy the wind because it's a challenge."
Kane and Webb were the only players to break par, with the field averaging 75.9 strokes on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove.
Two-time defending champion Se Ri Pak was six strokes back after 76 in the event limited to tournament winners from 2001-03 and active Hall of Fame members.
No. 1 Annika Sorenstam is skipping the tournament to play in the Tiger Skins in Singapore.
WORLD CUP: Germany's Alex Cejka and Marcel Siem combined for 5-under 67 in windy conditions to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the World Golf Championships event at Kiawah Island, S.C.
Wales' Ian Woosnam and Bradley Dredge opened with 68 in the best-ball round, and the United States' Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard were tied for seventh after 71 on the Ocean Course.
The two-man teams will play an alternate-shot round today. After another best-ball round Saturday, play will end Sunday with a second alternate-shot round.
"With the way we played, it's not such a bad score. Nobody in the field ran away with everything," Leonard said. "It's playing so difficult, trying to just keep two balls in play."
TAIHEIYO MASTERS: British Open champion Ben Curtis shot 7-under 65 for a one-stroke lead after the first round at Gotemba, Japan. Jumbo Ozaki and Kiyoshi Murota were in second.
